Biospyder Technologies, Inc. — Department of Agriculture SBIR Phase I: 8.2

Description

A primary test that can be performed in orange groves to identify carrier insects and trees infected with the bacteria that causes citrus greening, and secondary test providing more detailed information that can subsequently be performed in central labs using sequencing-based technology,will be established and the feasibility of performing these tests and identifying infection in the carrier insects and trees will beestablished.Using these tests it will be possible to identify and confirm infection, and potentially, to do so for trees much sooner than possible today, before symptoms are evident. These tests may also be more sensitive in detection infection in the insects, permitting single infected insects to be identified when first infected rather than later as the bacteria titer reaches the threshold required for current assays.